The Antique Apparatus Bay

The Antique Apparatus Bay Preservation & Restoration of Antique Fire Apparatus.

đź“ŤTexas, USA

https://linktr.ee/TheAntiqueApparatusBay

(Private Collection)

08/29/2026

After sitting silent since the 1950s, Chicago Fire Department Engine 56 is pumping again.

Following a complete pump rebuild and repairs to the pump transmission.

This was just a small test to check our work and make sure everything was operating properly. The real pump test is still to come.

08/25/2026

A little clarification as I didn’t articulate what was actually happening very well.

There’s a threaded rnut that essentially holds the clutch pack and one of the pump-drive dogs in position on the shaft.

That nut had backed off. Because it was no longer in the correct position, it prevented the opposing dog from sliding all the way forward and fully locking into engagement.

So while the rounded dogs initially caught our attention, the bigger issue was that the mechanism physically wasn’t being allowed to travel far enough to fully engage.

With that figured out, we’re getting somewhere.

And a little teaser for the next video… Engine 56 will be pumping for the first time.

08/16/2026

When we first tried engaging the pump on Engine 56, it simply would not go into gear. Rather than force anything and risk causing more damage, we decided the best course of action was to drop the pan and investigate.

At first glance, we found the engagement dogs were heavily rounded over, and we believed we had found the culprit. Interestingly, the wear was only present on the large side of the pump an indication that this was clearly the preferred side during Engine 56’s years of service.

Classic.
08/15/2026

Classic.

08/10/2026

1922 Ahrens Fox I-M-2 Reg. 1064 former Chicago FD Engine 56 running on distributor only.

Following up on yesterday’s video showing the C.F.D. lettering back on the hood for the first time, here are a few photo...
08/08/2026

Following up on yesterday’s video showing the C.F.D. lettering back on the hood for the first time, here are a few photos of the prep work that went into getting it right.

Through our research, it became pretty obvious that the CFD Shops had multiple people doing lettering, and each had their own slightly different style. We spent a lot of time studying original photos and surviving examples to make sure the size, spacing, font and shadow were as historically accurate as possible.

Getting these details right is what makes the truck come together as a historically accurate preservation.

08/07/2026

The pump rebuild is complete and Engine 56 is finally starting to come back together.

Most of the truck had been painted orange, so we spent hundreds of hours going over it by hand with razor blades to uncover the original Chicago shops red underneath.

We weren’t able to save everything. The hood and pump had to be repainted, so we did our best to recreate the original paint, lettering and finish blending it into what survived.

A lot of work still ahead, but it’s finally starting to look like Engine 56 again.

07/30/2026

The 750 GPM piston pump is almost finished. You can also start to see some of the intentional paint chipping and cracking that will help blend it into the rest of the truck. The paint was also flattened so it doesn’t have that fresh, glossy look. The goal has never been to make it look brand new—it’s to make it look like it’s always been part of Engine 56.

07/21/2026

Progress continues on the pump rebuild. New pucks, springs, leather seals, and stainless steel studs. Also continuing to work the ignition and other running components. Thanks goodness we have extra parts!!!!

07/17/2026

Spent the day getting the pump ready for paint. The parts were sandblasted, then prepped for color. Matching the original sheen is just as important as matching the color, so we added flattener to keep it looking like it belongs on a 100-year-old truck not a brand-new restoration.

A few hours in a Tyvek suit wasn’t exactly fun, but it’s another step closer to getting Engine 56 back together.

Address

330 Main St.
Manchester, CT
06040

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